"I will not keep silent because of Zion, and I will not keep still because of Jerusalem, until her righteousness shines like a bright light and her salvation, like a flaming torch." (Isaiah 62:1)
As we roll into the start of yet another week, The Lord laid it on my heart to remember, regardless of circumstances, who He still is.
*He is still our Savior
*He is still our Father
*He is still our Shepherd
*He is still our Friend
*He is still our Healer
*He is still our Deliverer
*He is still our Redeemer
*He is still our Refuge
*He is still our Fortress
*He is still our Bulwark
*He is still our Hope
*He is still our Rock
*He is still our Salvation.
He still is who He says He is.
I don’t know about you, but that’s hugely comforting to me to know that at a time where all else seems to be changing, I’m blessed enough to know The One who never does.
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.” (Isaiah 54:10, NIV)
Seasons change.
Old longings come to fruition and fresh passions are birthed. Transitions become a necessary vehicle in our ongoing journey with The Lord. Being renewed little by little, and transformed day by day becomes a lifestyle. Layers of fear, doubt or unbelief are carefully peeled off giving way to a new creation that has agreed to become new from the inside out in order to step into all that The Lord has in store.
For what The Lord has in store is exceedingly abundant. His thoughts and ways are higher than ours. When we think we know what it is that we want, He knows what it is that we need and even goes a step further to not just meet us at our point of need, but to fill us to the overflow.
He wants to give us our inheritance.
“Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Romans 8:17, NIV)
God calls us co-heirs with Christ and called to possess an inheritance with Him and for Him. In His Name, it is already ours. But just like Joshua had to take steps to actually go in and take possession of the promised land that was for the taking, we do too. However, the journey towards that is precisely where we are formed. It is in the in- between space where He renews our perspective the most. We can either look at the promised land as a land of giants, or as a land that is flowing with milk and honey. We can either look at ourselves as grasshoppers in our own eyes or we can look at ourselves as more than conquerors. We can either look at the process towards that as uncomfortable or we can choose to look at it as unstoppable.
We can choose, and truth be told, we will be required to consistently choose. Choose better. Choose life. Choose adventure.
Choose to walk in the fullness of our inheritance in Christ and never settle for anything less than what HE has promised.
“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.” (Zechariah 4:6)
Very heartening.
Why?
Because anytime that we are called to tread the unknown, we can take heart because His Spirit is ever present with us.
He helps us. He counsels us. He strengthens us. He empowers us. He comforts us. He guides us. He loves us. He never lets go.
Because He never lets go, we can.
We can let go of the need to know. We can let go of the need to understand. We can let go of the need to control.
Instead, we can embrace the joy and delight that is found in simple child like trust which rests in the nature and character of its Father,
Unchanging.
For the Truth that sets us free is the same: yesterday, today and forevermore.
“He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.” (Daniel 2:22, NIV)
I will let The Holy Spirit have the privilege to speak to you personally on what this verse may mean to you as you too are journeying along. But to me, this speaks of His Omnipresence. He knows what lies ahead, as the future may seem a bit obscure at times. But we take courage in the revelation that He is The One who goes before and makes all our crooked paths straight. In His foreknowledge, He already knows the path we are on and the way we must walk in this day, this time, this season for the future to unfold the way it needs to in order for us to taste of the goodness of The Lord in the land of the living. Therefore, seeking revelation knowledge through the power of The Holy Spirit to keep us in sync with His foreknowledge becomes not only our portion, but perhaps even our prize.
So, the promised land also comes with a corresponding promise:
Transformation.
For to take possession of that which has our name on it, Jesus will first transform us on the inside as we continue to be conformed to His image from one degree of glory to another; more loving, more forgiving, more gracious, more kind, more courageous and more trusting with each day that He blesses us with.
More trusting in the unchanging character of our Father at a time when we are changing on the inside, with a peaceful and patient expectancy of change, even on the outside.
A change that may come with its fair share of challenges is a change that is in fact, a breath of fresh air. It’s a welcome change as it is something that our Father uses to woo us further into His Presence, which is where the real change happens.
The wind and the waves still obey Him. He stills the storm to a whisper and hushes the waves of the sea. He determines the number of stars and calls them each by name. He breaks forth like the dawning of a new day, and the night doesn’t deter Him either. He stretched out the Heavens and still, made His Home within us.
Eternal dwellings, dwelling deep within.
Perhaps, this is what it means to say that Christ in us is the hope of glory. For The One who reigns in splendor higher than the highest heavens was humble enough to descend from Eternity into time, and give us the gift of being able to experience Heaven within us. By virtue of who He is and entering into a relationship with Him, I feel deeply humbled and profoundly grateful at the thought that we don’t really have to wait until we make it Home, because The Home we seek dwells deep within.
In the vicissitudes of life, the truth that The Truth that sets me free is the same; yesterday, today and forevermore gives me immense comfort and strength. I realize that because HE is unchanging, I can rest. He was faithful through all my yesterdays bringing me into my today and has gone into all my tomorrows. He knows the end from the beginning, and has factored in everything required to ensure the fulfillment of my dreams and destiny. He is always working and arranging things behind the scenes so that when we see the manifestation of it all in the natural, it leaves us in even more astonishment, wonder and awe of the majesty of Our King.
Our King who reigns in glory and simultaneously is the glory within.
Because He is unchanging, therefore we can change and morph into all that He has created us to be so that we can do all that He has called us to do. For we know beyond a shadow of doubt that He will remain the same.
He will never leave us nor forsake us.
He will always be faithful to complete that which He has begun.
He will always make a way where there seems to be no way.
He will always remain true to us and to His promises over our lives.
He will shelter us, shape us and shepherd us through it all.
He will open doors no man can shut and shut doors no man can open.
He will counsel us and correct us.
He will prepare us for what He has prepared for us.
He will be an ever present help in times of trouble.
He will empower and equip us with all that we need to be fruitful in His desire for our lives.
He will go before and make all our crooked paths straight.
He will always love us.
Therefore, we can rest.
We can rest in Him just like a tree rests in the soil that made it. We can rest in Him and allow Him to grow our roots deep as we become sensitive to the still, small voice within. We can rest in Him till confusion gives way to clarity, and chaos turns to order. We can rest in Him till He becomes more real than the bedrock beneath our feet. We can rest in Him till we hear Him say, “You are My Beloved.”
He will never change His mind towards us and His heart is full.
And He never changes.
The world may change. The seasons may change. The times may change.
SoulandSubstance27 